FULL DAY
JÖKULSÁRLÓN KAYAK AND HIKE EXPEDITION
Hike across Europe’s largest glacier and paddle around icebergs at Iceland’s most breathtaking natural wonder- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
SEASON
summer
TRIP LENGTH
7-8 hours
DIFFICULTY
moderate-challenging
MAX GROUP SIZE
6
DISTANCE KAYAKING
~8km
DISTANCE HIKING
~3km
This tour combines hiking and kayaking- but with a twist! By using packrafts (lightweight inflatable kayaks), we are entirely self-sufficient and can carry our equipment across the glacier to reach one of the most impressive sights in Iceland- the calving glacier front of Breiðamerkurjökull. From here, we inflate our kayaks and set off paddling back towards civilisation.
The meeting point for this tour is at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where we will go over equipment and discuss the weather forecast for the day. From here, we will drive for approximately 30 minutes through a diverse post-glacial landscape to reach our starting point. We say goodbye to the car and start our journey into the wilderness!
Hiking to the front of the glacier takes approximately 30 minutes, where we will put on crampons and safety gear and begin hiking across the ice of Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Hiking across the ice takes around 45 minutes and brings us to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in all of Iceland: the calving face of Breiðamerkurjökull. You can see the solid mass of ice flowing into the lagoon Jökulsárlón, breaking off into huge icebergs which float around the lagoon.
After inflating the boats and some paddling instruction, we will take to the water with our boats aimed in the direction of “home”. Paddling the length of the lake past icebergs in beautiful blue water is an otherworldly experience.
The total distance to paddle back to our starting point is approximately 8 km (~3hrs). We will stop once or twice at the lakes edge to eat, drink and rest before ending the day back where we started at the Jökulsárlón car park.
What’s included?
Professional glacier and kayak guide
Transportation in a 4x4 vehicle to the trailhead
Crampons and safety equipment for crossing the glacier
Kayaking equipment: boat, drysuit, PFD, paddle
What should I bring?
Warm clothes including two pairs of warm socks!
Phone or camera
Hat and gloves
Bottle of water / snacks
Sunglasses
How difficult is this trip?
This trip is of moderate distance, but due to the complex terrain crossed it will usually take a full day (7 – 8 hours). You will be required to carry a backpack containing your boat, paddle and drysuit (~7kg) for 3km walking, before paddling across the lake. No specific part of the trip is difficult, but due to the length of the trip people who are unfit will struggle. The trip is aimed at people who have a good basic level of fitness and are used to being outdoors.
About the boats
We use MRS Nomad packrafts as our watercraft. These are the lightweight (~4kg), inflatable kayaks which make this trip possible: the older generation of heavy inflatable kayaks make hiking long distances impractical, and therefore it is only relatively recently that journeys like this become accessible. They are designed for maximum performance on flatwater, perfect for our use on the numerous glacier lakes of south-eastern Iceland
WHERE WILL YOU MEET US?
The meeting point for this tour is at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/smEXRCZXHyLkTCXh6
At the main Jökulsárlón car park you will see a cafe, a building with toilets and a row of small food trucks. Behind the food trucks is an area for commercial vehicles (tour buses etc.). Our 4x4 vehicle will be parked in this area, marked with our company logo.
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If weather conditions make the proposed route unsafe, then we may have to cancel the trip- in which case a full refund will be provided. We will always do our best to offer an alternative option when possible. ription text goes here
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Short answer: Yes! However whilst kayaking there is always a risk of electronics getting wet due to splashes from the paddle.
With this in mind: if you have a waterproof phone, then only bringing this is the simplest option for most people. There is a pocket on the PFD to store it, which allows easy access whilst paddling. If your phone is not waterproof, or you would like to bring a camera, we would advise bringing a dedicated drybag or waterproof phone case. tion text goes here
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Yes. This is a full day tour, so we will definitely find a nice place to stop to eat. The length of time we stop for will depend on the weather and the energy of the group.
FAQ
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The difficulty of this tour is rated moderate/challenging. This is a full day tour where it is expected to spend 7 hours outdoors, hiking and kayaking. Therefore, it is recommended to have a good basic level of fitness to take part in this tour. For example, if you have experience doing day-hikes of >10km with a backpack then this tour will not be too difficult. As the longer portion of this trip is kayaking, if you are a very experienced kayaker then the requirements for overall fitness can be reduced a little.
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Yes. We paddle on flatwater; the boats are very stable and therefore this trip is suitable for first time kayakers. Paddling instruction will be given by your guide.
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Yes. Our boats have a maximum capacity of 120kg and we have drysuits up to size XXL. Due to the water temperature, drysuits are essential for safety and if you cannot fit comfortably inside the drysuit then you will not be able to participate in the tour. Get in touch with us via email or phone if you need any clarification regarding this